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Uber Driver Charged with Sexual Assault

Monica Madeja reports from Framingham, where 37-year-old Jose Arevalos-Avalos appeared in court on Monday after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in his car after she refused his alleged offer for sex.

(Published Monday, Feb. 11, 2019)

What to Know

Jose Arevalos-Avalos, 37, of Holliston pleaded not guilty to charges of indecent assault and battery and attempting to pay for sex.

Arevalos-Avalos walked out of Framingham District Court after posting $3,000 bail.

Arevalos-Avalos allegedly sexually assaulted a woman while driving as an Uber driver.

A Massachusetts Uber driver accused of sexually assaulting a rider is out on bail after facing a judge Monday morning.

Thirty-seven-year-old Jose Arevalos-Avalos of Holliston pleaded not guilty to charges of indecent assault and battery and attempting to pay for sex during his arraignment in Framingham District Court Monday morning.

Ashland police say Arevalos-Avalos offered a rider $100 in exchange for sex Friday afternoon. When she told him no, Arevalos-Avalos allegedly sexually assaulted her in the front seat with his hands. He then reportedly gave the victim his number as she left the car and asked her to call him.

The victim, who was on her way to work at a restaurant, told her manager what happened and they immediately contacted police, according to investigators.

Police in Ashland say they charged 37-year-old Jose Arevalos-Avalos, of Holliston, with indecent assault and battery on a person age 14 or over and attempting to pay for sexual conduct after the incident Friday afternoon.

A spokesperson for Uber sent NBC10 Boston a statement calling the incident "deeply upsetting," and stating that Arevalos-Avalos cannot access the Uber app to drive amid the investigation, with which Uber is cooperating.

The judge, who set the defendant's bail at $3,000, ordered Arevalos-Avalos to stay away from the victim, her place of work and the hotel from which he picked her up. He was also ordered to not drive for any rideshare app.

Prosecutors unveiled the full statement in court on Thursday against "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett, who is accused of fabricating a racist and homophobic attack against himself in a bid for publicity.